Revocation of Certain Executive Orders
Signed: January 21, 2025
Published: January 31, 2025
Document Number: 2025-02098
📋Summary
This executive order cancels two earlier orders that required COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors and COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees. It affects federal agencies, federal employees, and companies that do business with the federal government by removing those government-wide requirements created by the revoked orders. Agencies are directed to carry out the change within existing legal authority and available funding, while keeping normal budget and management processes intact. It also states that the order does not create new legal rights or benefits that people or organizations can enforce in court.
💼Business Impact
This revocation most directly affects **federal contractors/subcontractors** and **companies with large federal workforces**, because the prior federal contractor COVID-safety and federal employee vaccination mandates are no longer required by those executive orders. Compliance burden may ease (e.g., no contract clause-driven vaccination/safety protocol requirements tied to EO 14042/14043), but **agencies can still impose health/safety rules under other legal authorities**, and state/local or customer requirements may still apply—creating an opportunity to **simplify policies while maintaining continuity for regulated sites**. Immediate actions: **review current federal contracts and solicitations** for any remaining COVID-related clauses, **confirm agency-specific workplace rules** (and any FAR/agency guidance updates), and **update HR/worksite policies and communications** to reflect what is no longer mandatory while preserving a defensible baseline for OSHA, state laws, and client requirements.
Full Text
Executive Order 14174 of January 21, 2025
Revocation of Certain Executive Orders
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1 . Revocation. The following Executive Orders are hereby revoked:
(a) Executive Order 14042 of September 9, 2021 (Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors); and
(b) Executive Order 14043 of September 9, 2021 (Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees).
Sec. 2 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 21, 2025.